Some ideas to think about to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your classroom for English Learners. By Rebecca Gaydos
1.Create a buddy system by pairing different students to be a buddy and friend to the EL for part of the day. Create a classroom environment that is
welcoming and friendly for the EL.
2. Use visuals: pictures, modeling, maps, graphic organizers, diagrams
3. Use more pair and group activities to make it easier for students to follow classmates and practice language. Include pictures or video that are culturally specific focusing on vocabulary that students lack background knowledge and experience.
4. Allow new speakers of English not to speak. New learners of English often go through a “silent period” before speaking.
5. Allow new ELs (English Learners) to use their first language in speaking and writing. Let them read text in their first language. Pair the student with another student or resource teacher or assistant that speaks the ELs first language (L1). This allows the EL to feel comfortable in the new environment and learn classroom culture.
6. Provide sentence frames for student beginning to use English. “I want (a, an)….” (chicken sandwich, red crayon, pencil) , “I need to..” (use the restroom, wash my hands, eat.., I don’t want/like…(chicken sandwiches, milk, a crayon…)
7. For students that have some English language skills, pre-teach as much as you can about a topic by providing materials to read at the child’s reading level, in their L1, and by providing pictures and video.
8. Help students laugh at their mistakes. Provide a safe, warm, and lighthearted learning environment for the entire class. A place where mistakes are welcomed as a sign of learning.
9. Don’t mistake lack of language for lack of intelligence.
10. Label items in the classroom with post it notes. Let your native speaking (NS) help put labels around the classroom. Have the ELs copy the words on the labels into a notebook. Next to each word, have the EL draw a picture of the item that the word represents.
By Rebecca Gaydos
1.Create a buddy system by pairing different students to be a buddy and friend to the EL for part of the day. Create a classroom environment that is
welcoming and friendly for the EL.
2. Use visuals: pictures, modeling, maps, graphic organizers, diagrams
3. Use more pair and group activities to make it easier for students to follow classmates and practice language. Include pictures or video that are culturally specific focusing on vocabulary that students lack background knowledge and experience.
4. Allow new speakers of English not to speak. New learners of English often go through a “silent period” before speaking.
5. Allow new ELs (English Learners) to use their first language in speaking and writing. Let them read text in their first language. Pair the student with another student or resource teacher or assistant that speaks the ELs first language (L1). This allows the EL to feel comfortable in the new environment and learn classroom culture.
6. Provide sentence frames for student beginning to use English. “I want (a, an)….” (chicken sandwich, red crayon, pencil) , “I need to..” (use the restroom, wash my hands, eat.., I don’t want/like…(chicken sandwiches, milk, a crayon…)
7. For students that have some English language skills, pre-teach as much as you can about a topic by providing materials to read at the child’s reading level, in their L1, and by providing pictures and video.
8. Help students laugh at their mistakes. Provide a safe, warm, and lighthearted learning environment for the entire class. A place where mistakes are welcomed as a sign of learning.
9. Don’t mistake lack of language for lack of intelligence.
10. Label items in the classroom with post it notes. Let your native speaking (NS) help put labels around the classroom. Have the ELs copy the words on the labels into a notebook. Next to each word, have the EL draw a picture of the item that the word represents.